Challenge to turn India's growth rate to double digits : PM Modi
New Delhi, June 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Indian economy grew at a healthy 7.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017-18 and the challenge now is to turn this to "double digits".
"The challenge now is to take this growth rate to double digits, for which many more important steps have to be taken. The vision of a New India by 2022 is now a resolve of the people of our country," Modi told the fourth meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council.
A broad range of issues will be discussed at the meeting including measures taken to double farmers' income, development of aspirational districts, progress of flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission, Mission Indradhanush and the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Governing Council is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of states in shaping the development narrative.
It reviews the work done during the previous year and deliberates upon the future developmental priorities.
The Prime Minister welcomed Chief Ministers and other delegates saying the governing council was a platform that can bring about "historic change". The Chief Ministers of Delhi, Odisha, Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura were not present.
He assured that the Centre would provide all the required assistance to flood-hit states.
Modi praised the Chief Ministers for playing a key role in policy formulation, through sub-groups and committees on issues such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Digital Transactions and Skill Development.
Modi announced that 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres are being constructed under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and about 10 crore families will be provided health assurance worth Rs 5 lakh every year.
He added that a comprehensive approach was being adopted for education under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
He said all aspects and parameters of human development needed to be addressed and improved.
"The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has emerged as a new model for implementation of schemes and this has so far been extended to 45,000 villages."
The target was universal coverage in seven important welfare schemes: Ujjwala, Saubhagya, Ujala, Jan Dhan, Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana and Mission Indradhanush, Modi said.
"India has no shortage of capabilities, capacities and resources and in the current financial year states are receiving over Rs 11 lakh crore from the Centre, which represents an increase of about Rs 6 lakh crore, from the last year of the previous government," Modi said.
This gathering represented the "hopes and aspirations of the people of India" and it was also the responsibility of this gathering to make all efforts to fulfil them, he added.
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Vaishno Devi ropeway row: Two detained in fresh protest, FIR against eight
Katra/Jammu (PTI): Two representatives of labourers and shopkeepers in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district were on Wednesday detained after fresh protests at the Katra base camp against a proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
According to police, an FIR was registered against eight people on Tuesday, a day after violent protests in Katra in which a policeman got injured.
Protestors, led by Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, took out a rally against the proposed ropeway project.
However, officials said the police stopped the protestors from moving ahead, resulting in clashes between them.
Singh and Chand were detained and taken away from the spot in a police vehicle, they said, adding that the protestors were also dispersed from the scene.
Udhampur DIG (Reasi range) Rayees Bhat said the detainees were not arrested.
The demonstration was triggered following the registration of an FIR in the Monday clash.
According to the FIR, a police team was performing law and order duty at Fountain Chowk, Katra, in view of the ongoing protests against the installation of the ropeway at Tarakote in Katra by the Shrine Board.
During the demonstration, the protestors wrongfully blocked the road, obstructing vehicular movement and causing hindrance to the free passage of yatris, it said.
Following this, Bhupinder Singh Jamwal alias Pinku Miya, Sohan Chand and Maqbool among others were booked for provocation and instigating violence.
They assaulted the on-duty police party unexpectedly with fists and blows and also attempted to harm the policemen using bricks, stones, and weapons, the police alleged in their FIR.
They also tore the uniforms of police officers and officials. Station house officer (SHO) Katra and other on-duty officials sustained injuries in the Monday clash and were shifted to community health centre Katra for medical treatment, it said.
The protestors and attackers also damaged some vehicles at Fountain Chowk on the abetment of the “protest leaders”, the FIR read.
They also pelted stones and bricks at the general public and yatris, thus endangering their lives, it said.
The strike was called off after the district administration assured the protestors of holding talks with different stakeholders, including Shrine Board officials, to address their concerns.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the genuine concerns of the people protesting against the proposed ropeway project would be addressed.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan and protest leader Bhupinder Singh jointly announced the strike's suspension.
"I have held talks with Bhupinder. We are aware of your demands and concerns. Bhupinder has given time till December 15 to hold talks with all stakeholders to resolve the issues," Mahajan said while addressing the protesters on Monday.
